Brown said: “I’ve got no regrets. I always knew where I’d end up. Coming to Celtic was the best decision I’ve made in my life. To be here nine years later, playing in front of 60,000 fans and walking into a facility like Lennoxtown every day, is brilliant.

“The deciding factor back then was speaking to Gordon Strachan and Tommy. I knew Tommy from Scotland. He was always texting and full of banter. He was great.

“You got a feeling of what the club was about and how they wanted to win trophies.

“They spoke a lot of about the club’s future but mostly about my future and how it would be so much better in a green and white shirt.

“They were right. Tommy was the man. He was a legend with everyone. He could tell you everything about Celtic from when the club was formed until the day he passed away.

“He was so enthusiastic about his football and playing for Celtic. He’d say how much he enjoyed his time as a player here and when he came back.

“You could see how much he loved it and how much it meant to people.”

Burns and Strachan sweet talked the ex-Hibs midfielder – but his heart was already set on Parkhead several months earlier, even if it meant a shift along the M8.

Brown said: “I thought I’d need a passport to get in to Glasgow!

“I got invited by the club to the Manchester United game. I went long with my agent and saw Naka score that free-kick.

“I just thought, ‘Wow’. There were 60,000 folk chanting after beating Man Utd at home. It wasn’t just one or two of those results at that time though.

Shunsuke Nakamura scores from free kick at Old Trafford against Manchester United

“Celtic were winning seven or eight times out of 10 against big sides. But that experience was fantastic and it really stayed with me. It gave me so much enthusiasm to come to Celtic and play in front of 60,000. When I did it was amazing.”

Signing for Celtic was one thing – being made captain in 2009 was another level.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. There’s been highs and lows but it’s all about how you come out the other side.

“Getting to the last- 6 of the Champions League were definite highlights as well as winning my first trophy.

“The day Tony Mowbray handed me the captain’s armband for the first time was another. He knew how much it meant to me.

“When I first signed nobody would have believed I’d captain Celtic let alone Scotland. I was slightly immature. Slightly. I have matured a bit now.

“At the time people thought I was just a wee hothead but the love of playing and will to win pulled me through.

“It’s still in there. I want to win week in, week out. Now I just don’t go fighting as much with refs and opposing players. I’ve mellowed.

“When Neil Lennon came in as manager he put a lot of responsibility on me. He used to say that he reminded me of himself. F*** knows how that was – I could run!

“I also scored a few more than him. Not many but a couple.”

All this memory lane stuff might sound like Brown’s time is winding down. Don’t bet on it.

Coaching can wait. Brown reckons he’s got at least five years left in the legs and he’s going to make the most of them.

A testimonial is around the corner next season but the club’s leader is expecting to be charging around the Hoops midfield for seasons to come.

The 30-year-old – back in business after four games out with a knee injury – said: “I still run just as much as I did.

“Maybe not with the same intensity and there are not as many stupid runs. You used to see these dots of where I’d run and there were zig zags all over the park. Now it’s more about trying to control my area.

“I still have a good five, six, seven years left to play so I don’t want to talk about the future or management. I just want to think how long my body can take being punished over 65 games a season. I could get another testimonial after this one.

“That will be good. I’ve not sat down or talked about it but the club have said I can have a testimonial at the stadium and that’s brilliant from Peter.

“Can you be suspended from your own testimonial?”

● Scott Brown: My Celtic Story, written by Mark Henderson, is available now at all Celtic Superstores and at www.celticsuperstore.co.uk.